CS 6967 - Fall 2016Special Topics in Numerical Simulation

This course is designed both for students who have no experience on numerical simulation and for students who already have extensive knowledge and experience on this topic. No strong physics background is required either. This is designed as a course that can be taken multiple times.

This is a primarily project-based course in which each student chooses an individual project topic and works on that project till the end of the semester. The course begins with an introduction to numerical simulation and lectures on different physically-based simulation methods in computer graphics. Students first implement a simple cloth simulation, and then each student chooses an individual project topic and proposes an implementation plan. Afterwards, each student presents a paper that is closely related to the chosen project topic followed by progress reports on their individual project throughout the semester. A significant portion of the course runs as a seminar. Therefore, all students are expected to attend the class regularly, carefully read the assigned readings in the beginning part of the course, and actively participate in classroom discussions.

Students taking this course will gain hands-on experience with their individual projects and will also familiarize themselves with other topics through the presentations of their classmates and classroom discussions, in addition to lectures. Experienced students with a prior expertise in a particular area are permitted choose a project topic in that area to further their knowledge and improve upon their prior projects, which would also benefit everyone through discussions in class.

This course is designed to equip students with a number of essential skills that they will need for a successful graduate study and a successfull career afterwards. At the conclusion of this course students will be able to:
• Get familiar with various simulation methods in computer graphics,
• Gain experience in implementing graphics simulation methods,
• Obtain sufficient knowledge to pursue further research in a chosen topic, and
• Improve presentation skills, which are critical for a successful career in the academia or the industry.

Schedule (subject to change)

Week

Date

Topic

Notes

1

Aug 23

Introduction to Numerical Simulation

Aug 25

Mass-Spring Systems

2

Aug 30

Implicit Integration

Simulation Project Part 1 Deadline

Sep 1

Solving Sparse Matrices

Reading: [Baraff & Witkin 1998]

3

Sep 6

Constrained Optimization& Cloth Simulation

Simulation Project Part 2 DeadlineReading: [Shewchuk 94]

Sep 8

Cloth Simulation

4

Sep 13

Simulation Project Discussions& Introduction to Fluid Dynamics

Simulation Project DeadlineReading: [Foster & Metaxas 96]

Sep 15

Incompressible Fluids

Reading: [Stam 99]

5

Sep 20

Project Proposal Reviews

Project Proposal Deadline

Sep 22

Project Proposal Reviews

6

Sep 27

Paper Presentation 1

Kui Wu, Magdalena Schwarzl

Sep 29

Paper Presentation 1

Elena Vasiou Sivvopoulou, Aniketh Venkat

7

Oct 4

Paper Presentation 1

Ian Mallett, Vikram Raj

Oct 6

Paper Presentation 1

Ankur Rathore, Hannah Swan

8

Oct 11

— Fall Blreak —

Oct 13

— Fall Blreak —

9

Oct 18

Progress Report 1

Vikram Raj, Ankur Rathore, Hannah Swan

Oct 20

Progress Report 1

Aniketh Venkat, Ian Mallett

10

Oct 25

Progress Report 1

Elena Vasiou Sivvopoulou, Magdalena Schwarzl

Oct 27

— No Class —

11

Nov 1

Progress Report 1/2

Kui Wu, Ankur Rathore, Hannah Swan

Nov 3

Progress Report 2

Ian Mallett, Vikram Raj, Elena Vasiou Sivvopoulou

12

Nov 8

Progress Report 2

Kui Wu, Magdalena Schwarzl

Nov 10

Progress Report 2/3

Aniketh Venkat, Hannah Swan

13

Nov 15

Progress Report 3

Ian Mallett, Vikram Raj

Nov 17

Progress Report 3

Ankur Rathore, Elena Vasiou Sivvopoulou

14

Nov 22

Progress Report 3

Aniketh Venkat, Kui Wu, Magdalena Schwarzl

Nov 24

— Thanksgiving —

15

Nov 29

— No Class —

Dec 1

— No Class —

(LCR is occupied for another event)

16

Dec 6

— No Class —

Dec 8

Final Project Presentations

Individual Projects

Each student will pick a project topic that is related to numerical simulation and propose a project plan. The topics and plans will be adjusted and approved by the instructor. A typical project topic for this class is implementing a relatively recent graphics paper. Interactive/real-time techniques are acceptable as well as slow/offline methods. The final project code can run on CPUs as well as GPUs or other devices, if desired.

Deadlines and Late Submissions: Each student will be assigned a group. Projects and progress reports must be submitted before the deadline of their group. A late penalty of 5% per day will be asserted for any late submission.

Collaboration between students is encouraged. If any external libraries and source code are used, they must be clearly indicated in all project documentation and presentations. Students cannot claim credit for any code that they have not written personally. Turning in projects that include unreferenced code from other sources is considered cheating and warrants a failing grade for this class. See the School of Computing Academic Miscondact policy.

Grading

Simulation Project

20 points

Project Proposal

10 points

Paper Presentation

10 points

Progress Report 1

10 points

Progress Report 2

10 points

Progress Report 3

10 points

Final Presentation

20 points

Class Participation

10 points

TOTAL

100 points

University of Utah Disability Accommodation Policy

The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and
activities for people with disabilities. If you need accommodations in the class,
reasonable prior notice should be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin
Union Building, 801-581-5020 (V/TDD), http://disability.utah.edu/. CDS will work with
you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations.